The Congress has moved a group of its legislators from Odisha to Bengaluru ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections scheduled for March 16, amid apprehensions of cross-voting.
According to Congress sources, around eight MLAs from the party’s Odisha unit were flown from Bhubaneswar to Bengaluru late on Thursday night (March 12, 2026) and have been accommodated at a resort on the outskirts of the city.
The move, party insiders said, is aimed at ensuring unity among the legislators in the run-up to the election.
Sources in the Congress said the decision was taken as a precautionary measure after the BJP fielded a second candidate for the Rajya Sabha seat, triggering intense political manoeuvring in the State.
“There were concerns about possible cross-voting and attempts to influence MLAs. As a safeguard, the leadership decided to move them out of the State until the voting,” a Congress functionary said.
Party leaders indicated that more legislators could join the group soon. “Four more MLAs are expected to arrive in Bengaluru by Saturday morning (March 14),” a Congress source said.
The Congress currently has 14 MLAs in the Odisha Assembly and requires additional support to ensure the success of its Rajya Sabha nominee.
Sources said the party leadership feared possible political bargaining and inducements involving legislators from different parties ahead of the poll.
Senior Congress leaders in Karnataka are understood to have coordinated the arrangements for the visiting MLAs.
According to party insiders, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and State Congress president D.K. Shivakumar oversaw the logistical arrangements for their stay in the city.
The legislators are currently staying at the resort facility at an amusement park, located about 35 km from Bengaluru.
Congress sources said the MLAs are expected to remain there until Monday morning (March 16) before returning to Bhubaneswar to participate in the voting for the Rajya Sabha election.
Hours after Biju Janata Dal issued a whip directing it legislators to remain present on Monday during voting, Congress on Thursday came up with a similar instruction amidst intensification efforts by all parties to mark every MLA before Monday’s crucial Rajya Sabha election.
“All MLAs of BJD in Odisha Legislative Assembly are hereby informed that the voting for Rajya Sabha elections 2026 will be held on Monday (March 16, 2026) from 9 am to 4 pm in the premises of assembly. All BJD MLAs are directed not leave headquarter and present in Bhubaneswar from March 13 to 16 unfailingly,” said Pramilla Mallick, BJD’s Chief Whip.
Ms. Mallick said this may be treated as a three-line whip and strict compliance is solicited. Similarly, C. S. Raazen Ekka, Chief Whip of Congress, issued a whip asking party MLAs not to leave Bhubaneswar.
The BJP has fielded its State president Manmohan Samal and sitting Rajya Sabha MP Sujeet Kumar, while backing former Union Minister Dilip Ray. The BJD, on the other hand, has nominated Santrupta Mishra and Datteswar Hota. The Congress has extended its support to Mr. Hota, whom BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik described as the “common candidate.”
With five candidates in the fray for four vacancies, political analysts foresee the possibility of cross-voting, absenteeism, or even intentional rejection of votes. Leaders of the three major parties, BJD, BJP and Congress, have held separate meetings with their MLAs, seeking unconditional support for their respective candidates.
All eyes, however, are on Subhasini Jena, the BJD MLA from Basta. Ms. Jena is the wife of Rabindra Jena, a former BJD strongman who joined the BJP on Wednesday. She was summoned to Naveen Niwas, the residence of Mr. Patnaik on Thursday.
When asked by reporters about whom she would vote for, the Basta MLA said it was improper to question her voting preference. “I belong to a political party and will follow what the party leadership expects of me,” she said.
In the 147-member Odisha Legislative Assembly, the BJP has 79 MLAs and enjoys the support of three Independents. The principal Opposition BJD has 50 MLAs, but its strength has come down to 48 after the party suspended Patkura MLA Aravind Mohapatra and Champua MLA Sanatan Mahakud for alleged anti-party activities. The two MLAs have not yet pledged support to any candidate. The Congress has 14 members, while the lone CPI(M) MLA has announced support for the common candidate, Mr. Hota.
Each candidate requires the backing of 30 MLAs to secure victory. Going by the numbers, the BJD and Congress can comfortably ensure the election of the common candidate, Mr. Hota. The BJP, however, falls short of the numbers required to ensure Mr. Ray’s victory. Yet, given Mr. Ray’s past record—having won a Rajya Sabha seat in 2002 despite opposition from the BJD, political observers say the outcome could still spring surprises.
Published – March 13, 2026 02:00 pm IST
